Book rounding and backing



Filed Jan. 8, 1954 5 SheetsSheet 1 [N VENTOR B A TTORNE VS YM M Kmug,+C- biII 3, 5- A. BR EDE NBERG 2,010,810

BOOK RbUNDING AND BACKING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. a F

Filed Jan. 8, 1934 INVENTOR Mm/1mm M Cam/ M k A TTOR/Vfil.

A. BREDENBERG BOOK ROUNDING AND BACKING Filed Jan 8, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet5 m M m m W HM WM A TTORNE rs.

3, 1935. A. BREDENBERG BOOK ROUNDING AND BACKING" Filed Jan. 8, 1934 I 5Sheets-Sheet 4 m E :0 m m m: E

' A A VENTOR BY W I Klflmzpldi kWh-s1] A TTORNE Ks g- ,1935. A.BREDENBERG 2,010,810

BOOK ROUNDING AND BACKING Filed Jan. 8, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 12v VENTORA TTORNE rs,

Patented Aug. 13, 1935 BOOK ROUNDING AND BACKING Alfred Bredenberg,Champlain, N. Y., assignor of one-half to The Sheridan liron Works andonehalf to '1. W. & C. B. Sheridan Company, corporations of New YorkApplication January 8, 1934., Serial No. 705,663

17 Claims.

This invention relates to book rounding and backing, referring to a welldefined class of machines for performing successively the roundingoperation and the backing operation upon books of the round back type,which steps customarily follow the gathering and the stitching togetherof the components of the books and precede the later operations ofbacklining and casing-in.

. Specific examples showing machines for rounding and backing booksinclude the following. The well known Crawley type of machine,illustrated by Patent No. 372,128 of 1887 and others, effects therounding by the rotation of opposed pressure rollers against the sidesof each book, the book being thus shifted edgewise and thence beingreceived and advanced by a carriage to a backing position, where theopposite book sides, near the back, are forcibly squeezed or compressed,and so held while the rounded of each book during a pause, namely, bypressure I between concave and convex bars, while the clamping walls areloosened to release the book.

\Lovell Patent No. 753,413 of 1904 similarly shows rounding and backingof books advanced in a clamp train, the rounding between rollers, andthe backing by an oscillating roller or bar. Mercer 1,237,537 of 1917shows travel between the walls of a fixed runway, the books being pushedalong with backs up and resting on a track, and being partially roundedby lifting by a convex part of the track and then rounded betweenrollers, and backed by a spreading roll.

The general object of the. present invention is to improve theefficiency, accuracy and output of automatic machines for rounding andbacking books. A particular object of the invention is to afford a moreefiective mechanism for performing the backing operation consisting ofthe forcible squeezing or compressing of each book near the rounded backand the spreading or shaping of the back as required in this step ofmanufacture; the books so treatedbeing thereafter carried along to thepoint where they are discharged, for example directly into the conveyoror clamps or" a backlining machine. Further and more particular objectsof the invention will be expla ned in the hereinafter followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment thereof or will be understoodto those conversant with the subject. To the attainment of such objectsand advantages, the present invention consists in the novel bookrounding and backing machine and the novel features of combination,construe-'1 tion and detail herein illustrated or described.

l of Fig. 1.

(Cl. 1l--5) In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a partial top viewof a book rounding and backing machine embodying the present invention,showing the preferred general plan or layout but with various partsindicated only in outline or diagrammatically. Fig. l is a section online Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale, is a left side elevation of one ofthe two backing mechanisms shown in Fig. 1, with certain longitudinalparts of the machine frame and shafts shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the backing mechanisms.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing only the underneathparts, the others being broken away or omitted for better showing.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation, that is, looking from the right of Figs. 2or 3, of one of the backing mechanisms, the same broken away in sectionat certain places to show the detail construction and shown with therising and falling parts in raised position.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 5 but with further partsbroken away or omitted to show more clearly the detail construction.

Fig. 7 is a left elevation of a detail shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8, on an enlarged scaleand looking from the left,.is a sectionalview taken on the line 8-3 of Fig. 3 and showing the relation of theparts.

acting upon the book for the backing operation.

Figs. 9, l0 and 11 are diagrams in left elevation showing the book, thecompressing members and the spreading member or backing bar in variousoperative positions to illustrate the action of the invention.

Referring first to Fig. l a number of books B,

latter consisting of an upper rail l'l. opposed by a lower rail i8 eachhaving projecting flanges so as to constitute guiding tracks. The bookconveyor preferably is advanced step by step in the directionof thearrow and comprises a system of vertical studs i9 having upper and lowerrollers running in the upper and lower rail tracks respectively andserving as articulations for the successive clamps. The clamps are thussupported vertically as they travel around the orbit or path determinedby the shape of the guide or track. The series of clamps constitutes atraveling runway, each clamp opening slightly for rounding but grippingthe book during travel.

The book clamps may be of usual form comprising relatively fixed innerclamp plates 2! and relatively movable outer clamp plates 22, the latterbeing mounted upon rods 23 sliding through the inner plate members so asto permit opening and closing of the clamps. Substantially the completeclamp mechanism is shown for one only of the clamps, namely the one atthe position showing the book B Strong springs 25 surround the rods 23of each clamp and press inwardly to close the clamp upon the book. Theinner ends of the rods are connected by a yoke 25 which carries a roller26. The opening of each clamp may be efiected by a bar or cam such as 2?which may have fixed cam portions, not shown, for the initial closingand the final opening of each clamp, but which preferably has a movableportion at the book or position B so that while the clamp there pausesthe bar 2? may be moved by timed connections to thrust the roller andthus open the clamp to release the book B which at this point or stationis to be rounded.

The means for feeding the successive books into the successive clamps isnot shown. Between the infeed point and the rounding point may be apreliminary shaping mechanism operating preferably to round each bookpartially, for example on the principles of the Lovell 8; Bredenbergpatent. A main shaft 353 is shown from which cams and other connectionsare actuated to operate the various mechanisms along the line of travel.

During a pause of the machine the book at station I? is to be completelyrounded or converted to the shape best shown in Fig. 8. This operationmay be performed as in the Lovell patent by a pair of rounding rollers32. Each book will have been positioned in its clamp at a somewhat highposition. The book 13 being relieved from pressure by the opening of theclamp as described, after it has been engaged by the rounding rollers3a, is shifted edgewise downwardly to a lowered position in the clamp bythe rotation of the rollers, which press forcibly upon the oppositesides of the book. This action effects the desired rounding, and isfollowed by the closing of the clamp and the withdrawal of the rollersbefore the book, its shape retained by the clamping pressure, passes onto the succeeding stations for backing and discharge.

Fig. 1 further indicates two complete backing mechanisms or units,namely a first backing unit 35 acting upon the book B and the secondbacking unit 36 acting upon the book B Each book is thus subjected totwo backing operations which, as will be explained, may be cooperativeor complementary. The book finally passes on to position B and thencearound to any further treatments desired and to discharge, effected byrelease by the clamp.

While the two backing mechanisms or units 35 and 36 have certaindifferences in operation by which they aiford complementary orcooperative actions upon each book, as will be described, they are ingeneral the same, and the following general description applies equallyto both of them down to the point where their differences are set forth.

Each backing unit comprises a backing member or bar 8@, havingoscillating movements and mounted upon a rising and dropping carriage55, which lifts the member 86 to each book for operation thereon whilethe book is held compressed between squeezing jaws i i ii and l l i. Thegeneral parts and drop carriage will first be described.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 6, each of the backing mechanisms is containedbetween or supported on a pair of the cross frames it. The rear end ofeach mechanism, extending beyond the far side of the clamp tracks issupported upon a horizontal bracket extension 38 as seen in Figs. 2-4.At the opposite sides of the extension 38 are provided inside grooves orsliding ways 32! adapted to receive, as fulcrums, a pair of rollers itmounted on opposite cross studs ii both secured in a central cross piece32, these combined parts constituting the rear end or crosshead of thecarriage G5. Each stud ii carries the hub of a long frontwardlyextending side piece or arm 63, these arms thereby adapted to swingabout the floating fulcrums or rollers it, and the arms at their frontends are interconnected by a cross stud or shaft it, these elements 40-41 constituting the upwardly and downwardly swinging carriage 55, thefront end of which may be lifted or lowered to raise the backing devicesto each book and withdraw them from the book.

The front cross stud i i of the drop carriage is surrounded by a hub orsleeve it which constitutes the upper end or head of a link t? thatextends downwardly from the front end of the carriage. The link ll has alower head it engaged upon the eccentric portion of a cross stud 553,which stud also engages the front end 522 of a rock lever i'ulcrumed inbrackets 54 near the front of the machine, the lever having a rearwardlyextending arm 53 carrying, near the center of the machine, a cam roll 55which is ressed upwardly against a cam on the main shaft 30, namely bythe gravity of the parts bearing down at the front end of the lever, andwhich roll is actuated and thrust down by the cam for elevating thecarriage l5 and the backing mechanism to each book in proper timing.

The upper and lower heads 33 and it of the link ll are interconnected byheavy compression springs 58, seated on the respective heads; also byvertical bolts 59, permitting sliding and preserving alinement. Saidbolts are releasably locked by screw ears Eit'i and they have lowerheads constituting stops opposing the springs and determining the normallength of the link. Within the springs are shown upper and lower studsiii and 62 adapted to constitute positive stops to the compression ofthe link and springs. Surrounding each stud 62 below each spring 58 isan adjusting collar or nut 33 threaded to engage threads on the stud forinitially setting the spring compression and therefore the backingpressure. or resistance to yield.

To adjust the length of link it, and thereby the height of the backingdevices and the backing pressure, the cross-stud Eiil may be turned, itseccentric portion d9 thereby changing the vertical relation between thelink head at and the cam lever arm 52. A handle 64 is shown for thispurpose. The arm 52 has a cap 65 holding the studs adjustment, which maybe loosened to change adjustment. A dial 66 is attached to the stud end,see Figs. 2, 5 and 7, and an index pointer 6'! indicates thereon theadjustment and pressure. The bolts d9 are shown at their upper endsthreaded in the link head it and their middle exposed parts are squared,giving access for adjustment for raising the head it and the backingdevices and relaxing the springs 53; and these bolts may be used forinitially correctly setting the longitudinal position of the head it ifthe backing devices should be tilted out of hori zontal.

be about a normal center 87 higher than the According to this inventionthe drop carriage 45, composed of the arms or side pieces 43 and therear and front cross pieces 42 and 44, is capableof yielding rearwardlyand frontwardly, its rollers 40 moving in the horizontal fulcrum slots39 on the frames I6. For resilience the head 42 is shown as acted uponby springs Ill in front and to the rear of it, the far: end of eachspring being confined by a nut I I, and there being a threaded bolt 72passing through the nuts, the springs and the cross piece. The head 42thereby floats between compressed springs. The nuts are locked on thebolt. The bolt and head and carriage may be adjusted bodilylongitudinally to set the backing devices centrally beneath the book.For example the rear threaded end of the bolt may pass through athreaded sleeve I3 rotatable within the rear end of bracket 33, a rearhead '14 and a front collar I holding the sleeve in place. Rotation ofthe sleeve effects the adjustment. For convenience a sprocket chain I6is shown extending to the sleeve head from a sprocket wheel on anadjusting shaft 'I'I extending frontwardly and having an adjusting wheell8 at an accessible point. When a change of book thickness is made thehandle is turned, thus setting the carriage 45 to bring the backingdevices centrally beneath the book.

Each backing mechanism comprises an oscillating backing device in theform of a concave bar or iron 86 best shown in Figs. 6 and 8. This issupported by the carriage 45 and lifted and low-* ered by the cam 5t asalready described, and is arranged also to rock or oscillate in contactwith,

. the rounded back of the book as will be explained vertical adjustmentof the backing bar 80 upon its carriage 82 there are shown two threadedpins 84 supplementing the bolt 8|, each pin carrying a pinion 85 andbeing threaded into the carriage, the pinions being in mesh with twoidler pinions 85 on fixed pins 8 which are in mesh with a central pinionon the bolt 8! which also is threaded inthe carriage. Thereby the mereturning of the bolt 8! rotates the series of pinions and the threadedpins andcauses the bodily lifting of the backing bar throughout itslength.

The mounting of the backing bar carriage 82 may be as follows. Thecurved end pieces of the carriage are formed with exterior curvedgrooves 'which engage upon a curved series of rollers 86 mounted at theinner .side of the upper part of the opposite arms or side pieces 43 ofthe carriage 45. By this arrangement the oscillating movement of thecarriage and backing bar will partof the carriage end pieces 83, each ofthese segments being shown engaged by a straight horizontal rack 90mounted at the top side of aslide 9| which may slide at the inner sideof the adjacent side piece 43, being supported by a flange 92 on theside piece andoonfined by a plate 93. The longitudinal reciprocation ofthe slide 9I and rack will cause the desired oscillat ing movements ofthe backing bar. This reciprocation may be effected as follows. The twosiides 9| are shown interconnected by a rocking cross piece 95 to whichis rigidly attached a collared and threaded rod as held on the crosspiece by a nut at the front end of the rod. The rod is shown as extendedrearwardly and threaded into a rod head 91 by which the rod may be movedforwardly and rearwardly. This motion may be produced by a crank pin 98extending from a crank disk, the rotation of which thereby effects thedesired movements. In order to adjust properly the extent of throw ofthe rod and the rack '99 operated thereby, and thereby the extent ofoscillation by the backing bar, the crank may be of the type having aradially adjustable crank pin 98. Such adjusting means are indicated inFig. 4, with an accessible bolt 99 for changing the adjustment. Thecrank is mounted at the end of a longitudinal countershaft I08 parallelto the main shaft 38. A small gear or pinion IOI on the countershaft isrotated by a large gear I92 on the main shaft so that when the machineis in operation the backing bar will make a number of completeoscillations in each cycle.

During the spreading operation by the backing bar the book is heldsqueezed between compressing jaws HQ and HI, Figs. 8 to 11. The rear jawI It! may be fixed in an adjustable position corresponding with the rearwall 2i of the book holding clamp. The jaw comprises a heavy bodyportion with a thin rigid extension reaching almost to the back cornerof the book.

The opposing or front squeezing jaw HI is movable, being retractableforwardly to admit each book and being then returned into contact withthe book and drawn forcibly rearwardly to compress the book as a part ofthe backing operation. The front jaw H! is shown mounted at the rear endof a slide I I2, see also Figs. 3 and 5. The slide H2 is slotted forpurposes of adjustment and is supported directly on top of a carriage H3arranged to be reciprocated rearwardly and forwardly as will bedescribed. The carriage I I3 has lateral wings II 4 slidable in recessesformed near the tops of the cross frames I6, with overlying plates I I5confining the wings in their recesses.

The slotted plate H2 which carries the movable jaw III is shown attachedon top of the carriage H3 by a bolt H6 passing through the slot andthreaded into the carriage. The slotted plate extends frontwardly whereit is formed into a head H1, and mounted in this head is a pair ofshafts H9 having their rear ends threaded and extended into the carriageH3, so as to afford screw adjustment of the relation between the plateand carriage and thereby the position of the front jaw. For theconvenient turning of the threaded shafts H9 to adjust the front jaw,while the bolt His is loose, there is shown a gear I29 mounted at thefront end of each of the threaded shafts, these two gears being engagedby a central pinion IEI mounted on a shaft I22 turning in the head H'I,with a hand wheel I23 at the front end of the pinion shaft for effectingthe simultaneous rotation of the gears and the consequent adjustment ofthe plate H2 and movable backing jaw.

For actuating the carriage II 3 and front jaw I I I the followingconnections are shown. A long Wrist pin H5 is shown extending throughthe Si center pin E35 carriage, and at the ends of this pin and outsideof the frames it are connecting rods 525 extending rearwardly andpivotally connected to a cross slide 52'! arranged to slide irontwardlyand rearwardly between the frames. The connecting rods are connected tothe cross slide by pivot pins E28 and from these pins extending forward-1y a pair of rear toggle links E38, from the front ends of which extenda pair of front toggle links till, the front ends of which are pivotedby a pin !32 to a fixed cross piece 533. At the toggle center theseveral links are interconnected by a center pin For operating thetoggle to shift the slide i? and thereby the backing jaw the is shown asoperated by a pair of downwardly extending links the lower ends of whichare guided by arms it? and carry cam rollers or followers ass restingupon and operated by a pair of cares mounted on the main shaft in thedrawin s the cams are shown in such position that the toggle links i353,i3i are lifted and straightened, and the movable backing jaw thus closedforcibly upon the book.

It is a substantial advantage to have two or more successive andcooperating backing operations in close succession on each book. Theresults of the first squeezing and spreading are by this systemsupplemented and made permanent by the second squeezing and spreading,minimizing the tendency of the book components to return to the originalform. The product is thus im proved in quality, and this system permitsalso a greater speed of output of the machine because neither of thebacking operations need be prolonged to the extent otherwise necessary.

As disclosed the combination of successive back-- ing units and steps isof particular value in that the spreading operation can be divided andpart of this operation performed in the first step or unit, the workbeing completed in the second step or unit, thus insuring greaterperfection in each or" the steps of the operation. For example, thefirst backing unit may be constructed or adjusted to work principally atthe center of the book back, and to compress and spread the signaturesadjacent to the center; while in the sec-- ond step or unit thespreading action can be carried from each side of the center out to theextreme corners of the book backemphasizing particularly this difficultpart of the backing operation; or, desired the first backing unit couldbe employed to handle completely one side or the book back and the nextunit the opposite side. The first mentioned mode oi apportioning the-work is herein specifically illustrated and may be further described asfollows in connection with the diagrams Figs. 9, l and 11.

At station E each book is first subjected to the ction shown in Fig. 9by the first backing unit The throw of the crank 98 is relatively small,and the backing iron oscillation about the center 8? is correspondinglyshort. The lifting connections are preferably adjusted for heavy springpressure, and other adjustments are in accord ance. The pressure andspreading concentrated near the middle of the book back, symmetricallyat both sides thereof, and the outer signatures are only partially bentor spread, to be completed at the next stage.

At station B the book is next subjected to a supplemental orcomplementary spreading action, by backing unit 36, as shown in Fig. 10and on larger scale, at one side on Fig. ll. The mechanism is adjustedfor a longer throw or oscillation of the backing iron, to both sides ofthe center, and the lifting connections may be set for less springpressure. The iron will reach to or beyond the extreme corners of thebook as shown, completing the backing operation, bending the extremesignatures sharply over the cortiers of the jaws. The springs 58 and iiiwill yield in the stress of the operating connections, causing thecenter Bl to rock laterally to the position Si in Fig. 11 and thenceacross to the other side of the axis, and the increased springcompression will thus enhance the bending and spreading action at thebook corners.

The partial rounding or shaping means shown in Fig. 1 and at the rear ofFig. 1, may, like the Lovell & Bredenberg patent, consist of a concavemember or rail 1 below the book, and a convex member 2 above the book,moved down and up by arms 8 to press the book into partly roundedcondition while the book clamp is re laxed, the clamp then closing andthe members withdrawing to permit the book to be conveyed onward.

Terms of position or direction are frequently used relatively herein andwhere, for example it is specified that the spreading device or memberis lifted to operate on a book held with its back down it will beunderstood that the arrangement can be inverted and includes thelowering of the device to a book held with its back up, both being knownequivalents.

There has thus been described a book rounding and backing machine andmethod illustrative of the principles of the present invention; but asmany features of combination, construction and detail may be variouslymodified within the scope or" the improvement it is not intended tolimit the same to such features except to the extent set forth in therespective claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a book rounding and backing machine means for conveying asuccession of books edgewise to a series of stations and for releasingeach book during rounding, mechanism for rounding each book during apause thereof, mechanism for thereafter at a subsequent station backingeach book, comprising jaws for squeezing its back portion and a devicefor spreading its components, and a second backing mechanism operatingimmediately after the first at a subsequent station for completing thebacking operation.

2. In a book rounding and backing machine means for conveying asuccession of books edgewise to a series of stations and for releasingeach book during rounding, mechanism for rounding each book during apause thereof, mechanism for thereafter at a subsequent station backingeach book, comprising jaws for squeezing its back portion and a devicefor spreading its components, and a second backing mechanism operatingdifferently from the first at a subsequent station for completing thebacking operation.

3. In a book rounding and backing machine means for conveying asuccession of books edgewise to a series of stations and for releasingeach book during rounding, mechanism for rounding each book during apause thereof, mechanism for thereafter at a subsequent station backingeach book, comprising jaws for squeezing its back portion and a devicefor spreading its components, operating principally near the center ofthe back, and a second backing mechanism operating principally near thecorners of the back at a subsequent station for completing the backingopera-.

means for operating the spreading device of one backing mechanism with adifierent degree of pressure than that of the other mechanism.

5. A machine as in claim 3 and wherein is means for operating thespreading device of one backing mechanism with a greater throw and lesspressure than that of the other mechanism.

6. In a mechanism for backing round back books, means for holding eachbook with its back exposed, backing jaws for squeezing its back portion,and a member for spreading its components; one of said backing jawsbeing movably mounted on a carriage, adjusting screws for adjusting saidjaw on the carriage, a movable crosshead having a connection to operatethe carriage and jaw, a device or toggle acting on the crosshead toimpose heavy pressure on the jaw, and timed connections for actuatingthe device.

7. In a mechanism for backing round back books, means for holding eachbook with its back exposed, backing jaws for squeezing its back portion, and a member for spreading its components; one of said backingjaws being movably mounted on a carriage, means for adjusting said jawon the carriage, a movable crosshead, a link connection from thecrosshead to the carriage, a device or toggle acting on the crosshead toimpose heavy pressure on the jaw, and timed connections for actuatingthe device.

3. In a mechanism for backing round back books; means for holding eachbook with its back exposed, as downward, backing jaws for squeezing itsback portion, and a member for spreading its components while beingsqueezed by said jaws; and means for operating said spreading membercomprising a carriage swingable up and down and carrying the spreadingmember to and from the book, timed connections for swinging the carriageand member up and down, and means for oscillating the member on thecarriage.

9. Mechanism as in claim 8 and wherein the carriage is mounted to swingon sliding pivots;

with means for adjustably shifting such pivots to adjust the spreadingdevice laterally to'the book back.

10, Mechanism as in claim 8 and wherein the timed connections forswinging the carriage comprise a link below the carriage, said linkbeing adjustable in effective length to adjust the spreading membervertically to the book.

11. In a mechanism for backing round back books, means for holding eachbook with its back exposed, as downward, backing jaws for squeezing theback portion of the book, a member for spreading the book back whilebeing squeezed by said jaws; a c-arriage'having' timed connections forshifting it up and down to carry the'spreading member to and from thebook, means mounting the member on the carriage to oscillate in an arcin contact with the book back, a curved rack on the member, a slidingrack mounted on the carriage to operate the curved rack and. member, andtimed connections for shifting the sliding rack.

12. Mechanism as in claim 11 and wherein the connections for sliding therack comprise a cross-.

head mounted independently of the carriage, a connecting rod from thecrosshead to the rack on the carriage, and means for reciprocating thecrosshead.

13. In a mechanism for backing round back books, means for holding eachbook with its back exposed, as downward, backing jaws for squeezing theback portion of the book, a member for spreading the book back whilebeing squeezed by said jaws, a carriage having timed connections forshifting it up and down to carry the spreading member to and from thebook, means mounting the member on the carriage to oscillate in an arcin contact with the book back, a curved rack on the member, a slidingrack mounted on the carriage to operate the curved rack and member, acrank device for shifting the sliding rack to oscillate the spreadingmember, and means for altering the throw of the crank device to adjustthe extent of oscillation of the member.

14. In a mechanism for backing round back books, means for holding eachbook with its back exposed, as downward, backing jaws for squeezing theback portion of the book, a member for spreading the book back whilebeing squeezed by said jaws; a carriage having timed connections forshifting it up and down to carry the spreading member to and from thebook, means mounting the member on the carriage to oscillate in an arcin contact with the book back, and means for causing its oscillation, aresilient element giving yield to the connections for lifting thecarriage and member, and a resilient element n giving yield to theoscillation of the member.

15. In a mechanism for backing round back books, means for holding eachbook with its back exposed, as downward, backing jaws for squeezing theback portion of the book, a member for spreading the book back whilebeing squeezed by said jaws; a carriage having timed connections forshifting it up and down tocarry the spreading member to and from thebook, means mounting the member on the carriage to oscillate in an arcin contact with the book back, and means for causing its oscillation,the connections for lifting the carriage comprising a resilient linkadapted to yield when the carriage presses the spreading member to thebook.

16. In a mechanism for backing round back books, means for holding eachbook with its back exposed, as downward, backing jaws for squeezing theback portion of the book, a member for spreading the book back whilebeing squeezed by said jaws; a carriage having timed connections forshifting it up and down to carry thespreading member to and from thebook, means mounting the member on the carriage to oscillate in an arcin contact with the book back, and means for causing its oscillation,comprising a slide slidable on the carriage, an actuating device orcrank mounted independent of the carriage to slide said slide, and aresilient element in the mounting of the carriage adapted to yield tocushion the oscillation of the member.

1'7. In a mechanism for backing round back books, means for holding eachbook with its back exposed, as downward, backing jaws for squeezing itsback portion, and a. member for spreading its components while beingsqueezed by said jaws; and means for operating said spreading membercomprising a carriage swingable up and down and carrying the spreadingmember to and from the book, timed connections for swinging the carriageand member up and down, and means for oscillating the member on thecarriage; the carriage being swingable about slidable pivots orcrosshead, and having opposed spring means yieldable in both directionstending to hold such pivots in normal position, but adapted to yield tocushion the spreading movements of said member.

ALFRED BREDENBERG.

